Overview

The journey of multiple sclerosis (MS) can be difficult for patients, but advances in the field have shifted the treatment paradigm from symptom management to disease modification. These therapeutic advances offer new hope, but effective care plans must be individualized and multi-dimensional, and the psychological, economic, and physical implications can be overwhelming for patients and their families. MS nurses are often the champions patients need to help understand therapies, manage symptoms, provide support and advocate for better, personalized health. Linda Morgante worked tirelessly as an MS nurse and touched the lives of thousands of patients, as well as her colleagues in the field. As an educator, Linda strove for excellence in nursing and to honor her legacy, the Linda Morgante MS Nurse Leadership Program, now in its 15th year, looks to help nurses, early in their professional career or looking to switch to MS nursing practice, by offering a virtual, full-day program featuring leading faculty in the field .This comprehensive program, offered virtually to best accommodate the schedules of busy nurses, features didactic presentations, office hours with faculty, Q&A, mentoring opportunities for ongoing collaboration and support. Register for this complimentary program today and invest in your professional development as an MS nurse.

This activity is intended for practicing nursing professionals who currently work in MS care or have an interest in entering the field.

The treatment of MS has evolved such that there are now a multitude of approved disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for clinicians and patients to choose from when managing the disease. However, selection of the optimal medication for an individual patient remains an issue given a lack of guidance, variations in practice/across practitioners, and disease heterogeneity. Additionally, despite the evolution of DMTs, medication compliance over the long-term remains challenging. Nurses are tasked with ensuring patient wellness despite these hurdles. Education of this target audience remains critical in the face of outcomes-driven patient care and with respect to diagnosis, adverse event and symptom management, and coordination of care.

Upon completion of this activity, learners will be able to:
•Apply evidence-based diagnostic and assessment approaches for evaluating disease activity in the brain and spinal cord to develop individualized treatment plans in patients with MS
•Improve patient outcomes and adherence to therapy by identifying, assessing, and managing emerging MS-related symptoms and DMT-related adverse events.
•Employ treat-to-target strategies and precision medicine to improve patient long-term outcomes

Provided by the Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning (ACHL) and Annenberg Center for Health Sciences at Eisenhower.

Supported by educational grants from Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, and TG Therapeutics, Inc.

Welcome and Introduction – Amy Perrin Ross and Colleen Harris (9:00am-9:15am)
Tributes to Linda Morgante and June Halper – Amy Perrin Ross and Colleen Harris
Disease Overview & Diagnosis – Aliza Ben-Zacharia (9:15am-10:10am)
Expert Discussion #1 – Amy Perrin Ross and Colleen Harris (10:10am-10:20am)
Break—(10:20am-10:30am)
Available MS Therapies – Marie Namey (10:30am-11:15am)
Treating to Target –Lynn McEwan (11:15am-11:35 am)
Case Presentation #1 – Lynn McEwan (11:35pm-11:55 am)
Lunch Break (11:55am-12:10 pm)
Symptom Management – Tricia Pagnotta (12:10pm-1:01pm)
Case Presentation #2 – Beverly Layton and Michelle Keating (1:01pm-1:19pm)
Break— (1:19pm-1:24pm)
Expert Discussion – Amy Perrin Ross and Colleen Harris (1:24pm-1:44pm)
The Lived Experience – Michelle Keating (1:44pm-2:09pm)
Conclusions and Thanks – Amy Perrin Ross and Colleen Harris (2:09pm-2:20pm)
*Times are in Central Time Zone